By Trevor Wabwire
The global report on HIV/AIDS by the United Nations program (UNAIDS)’s report, dubbed “DANGER,” highlights that every two minutes an adolescent girl or young woman is infected with HIV. Uganda,a country with a small population, is at risk of having an increase in HIV/AIDS infections.
As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak that worsened the situation in the country, over 2,000 teenagers became pregnant, as reported by the Ugandan media. In the course of the two-year period, a number of girls faced the risk of contracting HIV/AIDs.
Brandan Katushabe, a student of Uganda Christian University(UCU), pursuing bachelor of Laws is striving to avail information on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) through the Own Your Future Initiative (OYFI).
Katushabe has decried the increasing number of new infections of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and domestic violence in schools. Therefore, she has launched the OYFI with the aim of propelling the president’s initiative, “H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to end new HIV/AIDS infections in the country by 2030,” together with Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, the first lady’s “Sexual purity campaign in schools,” Clause 13 of the East African Community (EAC) Bill on Sexual and Reproductive Health(SRH) among young people and different Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) partners’ agenda.
She is advocating for free access to SRH information and services for young people in academic institutions, especially in institutions of higher learning around the country.
“We are a long way from that vision.” Uganda is continuously experiencing significant SRH challenges such as high cases of teenage pregnancy, early marriages, increased new HIV infections, and gender-based violence in schools,” Katushabe said.
She has a vision of seeing young people accessing information on SRH and services in institutions of higher learning in Uganda. Katushabe was accompanied by leaders in schools to speak in a uniform language.
The first lady has expressed her excitement about the “Own Your Future Campus Initiative” by the student leaders and young people at universities and other tertiary institutions. She acknowledges that the young leaders have appreciated the role they have to play at their institutions of learning.
“This initiative is a testament that youth leaders at universities and other tertiary institutions realize the role they have to play to direct them on the path to self-preservation in these days of moral decadence,” said Kataaha Museveni.
The event was graced by the first lady, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, third deputy Prime minister, Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwiine, religious and cultural leaders, Heads and Representatives of Civil Society Organizations, Heads and Representatives of higher institutions of learning
